M

When Bond is talking to M in her apartment in the beginning of the film, he makes a reference to her name "I had no idea M stood for..." Does anyone know what it stands for? Or is this supposed to remain unknown?

Comments

  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,882Chief of Staff
    In his Bond novels, Raymond Benson gives M the name of Barbara Mawdsley. That COULD be the name Bond discovers in CR; otherwise, I think it's supposed to be unknown to us all.
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    M in Ian Fleming's novels stands for Sir Miles Messervy. However, I don't believe the full name of any M in Bond films has ever been revealed.
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    edited January 2008
    M in Ian Fleming's novels stands for Sir Miles Messervy. However, I don't believe the full name of any M in Bond films has ever been revealed.

    I think M's called Miles by Gogol in one of the films- Spy Who Loved Me? I think that's right. So it's a fair assumption that he's Miles Messervy in the films too.
    And obviously there's the theory that Robert Brown's M could be Admiral Hargreaves- the character he played in Spy Who Loved Me!

    Otherwise Dench's M could be anybody: Barbara Mawdsley's as good a name as any. I suppose she could even have played two different Ms so far- the one in CR does seem a bit different in character (and dress sense!).
    I like to think that whatever the M stands for is simply a very embarrassing name that she doesn't want Bond to say, not for any reason of national security, but because she hates hearing it! :D Maureen, perhaps? Mildred Mold?
  • MailfistMailfist Posts: 236MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    M in Ian Fleming's novels stands for Sir Miles Messervy. However, I don't believe the full name of any M in Bond films has ever been revealed.

    I think M's called Miles by Gogol in one of the films- Spy Who Loved Me? I think that's right. So it's a fair assumption that he's Miles Messervy in the films too.
    And obviously there's the theory that Robert Brown's M could be Admiral Hargreaves- the character he played in Spy Who Loved Me!

    Otherwise Dench's M could be anybody: Barbara Mawdsley's as good a name as any. I suppose she could even have played two different Ms so far- the one in CR does seem a bit different in character (and dress sense!).
    I like to think that whatever the M stands for is simply a very embarrassing name that she doesn't want Bond to say, not for any reason of national security, but because she hates hearing it! :D Maureen, perhaps? Mildred Mold?

    I had always supposed that the M character played by Bernard Lee and Robert Brown were the same person, in the same way as Bond is the same person played by 6 different actors.

    y
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Yup; that probably makes more sense- I'm inclined to agree with you. Some people think he's Hargreaves, and there's nothing onscreen which disagrees with that. Not sure how likely it is you'd have two Admirals in a row in charge of MI6 (and who like the same paintings in their office!) but I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks he's Hargreaves.
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    edited March 2008
    emtiem wrote:
    Not sure how likely it is you'd have two Admirals in a row in charge of MI6

    Not that unlikely, actually. When a military officer is appointed to a certain position, he or she is generally automatically promoted to the rank commensurate with that position. So for instance, if an officer of the rank of Captain/Colonel/Group Captain, has been appointed head of, say, MI6, he/she will be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral/Major General/Air Vice Marshal.
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    That is quite interesting, but I do get the feeling that serving in the armed forces isn't a standard move for one who will be involved in the security services.
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    Forty or fifty years ago it would have been perfectly normal, definately not now. You would have to have been a career spook in the organization for some time or at least have very very great input, contact and liaison from the Home or Foreign office.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
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